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NEW YORK (CBS) --Audrey Johnson Was Longtime Companion Of Former Sixers Star World B. Free The longtime companion of a former NBA star was killed in Brooklyn while trying to stop an assault outside her family's home. The shooting happened right in front of 149 Clifton Place in Bed-Stuy. Police said 51-year-old Audrey Johnson had just come back home when she heard about a confrontation on the sidewalk in front of her home. She came outside to see what what happening. Her niece, Jeromeka Johnson, told CBS 2HD that the victim, who lives in East Orange, N.J., had returned to...

White American players are less visible, and arguably less prominent, than at any time in the NBA's 63-year history

60 Minutes: Disgraced Ref Talks About Betting Scandal, The Mob, And How He Got Caught: (CBS): Winning bets on pro basketball games using insider knowledge only he as an NBA referee would know was "euphoria" says now-disgraced ex-ref Tim Donaghy - that is, he says, until the mob got its hooks in him and threatened his family. Donaghy talks to 60 Minutes correspondent Bob Simon about how he says he based his bets on other refs' biases, his mafia involvement and the subsequent jail time he received in his first interview to be broadcast this Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. Donaghy...

Some athletes drink Gatorade, others prefer water. Ron Artest once had his own unique halftime beverage of choice."I used to drink Hennessy at halftime," Artest says in the interview. "I(kept it)in my locker. I'd just walk to the liquor store (near the stadium) and get it." In addition to the drinking revelation, Artest — who also called himself "one of the best defenders to ever play basketball" — opened up on a wide variety of topics, including past alcohol and marijuana use while in college at St. John's, the infamous brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills in 2004, why...

They don't all need glasses. But if you always suspected basketball referees are biased — well, you're right... Refs favor the home team... They're big on "make-up" calls. They make more calls against teams in the lead, and the discrepancy grows if the game is on national TV. The professors studied 365 college games during the 2004-05 season and found that refs had a terrific knack for keeping the foul count even, regardless of which team was more aggressive. Exhibit A: The 2005 Final Four meeting between Illinois and Louisville. The Illini, known for being more aggressive defensively, got whistled...

LOS ANGELES -- Clippers longtime play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith were suspended one game by the Fox Sports Prime Ticket cable network for their comments about Memphis center Hamed Haddadi. Lawler and Smith made their off-the-cuff comments about the Iranian-born center during Wednesday night's telecast from Memphis. The on-air banter offended a viewer who e-mailed Fox to complain.

DETROIT -- The key to survival in tough times is to surround yourself with as many comforts as possible. That's why the office is decorated with basketball memories. They soothe and give the warmth and energy needed to deal with yet another round of social and political uppercuts. There's a leather Wilson basketball on the shelf behind the desk, commemorating the 18,000th point scored in a wonderful career. A framed Pistons jersey hangs on a wall. A group picture with fellow members of the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team is on another wall. Crystal trophies and awards are tucked away neatly...

NEW YORK (AP) -- Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and he said his prognosis is encouraging. The NBA's all-time leading scorer was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, he told The Associated Press on Monday. The 62-year-old Abdul-Jabbar said his doctor didn't give any guarantees, but informed him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle." Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease. He is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which makes...

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and the basketball great said his prognosis is encouraging. The NBA's all-time leading scorer was diagnosed last December with chronic myeloid leukemia, he told The Associated Press on Monday. The 62-year-old Abdul-Jabbar said his doctor didn't give any guarantees, but informed him: "You have a very good chance to live your life out and not have to make any drastic changes to your lifestyle." Abdul-Jabbar is taking an oral medication for the disease. He is a paid spokesman for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, which...

NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has a rare form of leukemia, but the Lakers legend says his long-term prognosis is very good. Abdul-Jabbar, 62, revealed during an interview Monday that he has Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that produces cancerous blood cells.

Jack Spillane column: A cup of joe with a guy named Steve (Pagliuca, that is)By Jack Spillane November 08, 2009 12:00 AM He's actually better in person than his ads. I'm talking about Steve Pagliuca, the venture capitalist and Celtics co-owner who's running for Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. In the wake of my initial column about Pagliuca, I had the opportunity to sit down with him for a short interview this week. He had toured a New Bedford scallop company — which must have been in between his cutting TV ads. (I don't need to tell you, of course, that...

The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read We've obtained a copy of Tim Donaghy's book, Blowing the Whistle, which purports to expose the NBA's "culture of fraud" and which Random House was set to publish next month — until, a source says, the league threatened to sue... Excerpts From The Book The NBA Doesn't Want You To Read As promised earlier, here are a handful of excerpts from David Stern's favorite book, Blowing the Whistle, by Tim Donaghy...

In 12 years, Antoine Walker(notes) made more than $110 million playing professional basketball moderately well. Take away taxes, throw in some adidas endorsement money and a "NBA Live 99" cover, and he's left with, what, $60-to-65 million? Whatever the details, it was a big chunk of change, which, amazingly, wasn't enough. "[Walker] liked to move in an outsized entourage; his mother estimates that, during his playing days, he was supporting 70 friends and family members in one way or another. And speaking of his mother, he built her a mansion in the Chicago suburbs, complete with an indoor pool, 10...

In a recent interview with Maxim.com, Cavaliers superstar LeBron James(notes), who was in fact dunking on a regulation rim before the age of one, was asked who he would most like to be able to posterize. His answer was a little surprising:

San Francisco is asking basketball superstar Michael Jordan to snuff out the cigars, after he was caught on the front page of The Chronicle's Sporting Green breaking the city's ban on smoking on public golf courses. City officials sprang into action after seeing the full-color photo Tuesday of the NBA Hall of Famer enjoying a good cigar while teeing off at Harding Park's 14th hole during a Presidents Cup practice round.In an interview with PGATour.com, Jordan was asked how many cigars he planned to smoke during this week's tournament. "Well," Jordan replied, "that depends, because I heard this is a...

You may have never thought you could get this political insight from a sports commentator, but former NBA Detroit Pistons star-turned-host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Network John Salley has defied expectations. Salley recently appeared on September 23 edition of "The Adam Carolla" podcast and asked Carolla a very pointed and insightful question. "I have a question - do you hate Obama?" Salley asked. "Why are so many people who now hate him after just 266 days they loved him? All of white America. Not all of ‘em but the majority." Check out the link...

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You may have never thought you could get this political insight from a sports commentator, but former NBA Detroit Pistons star-turned-host of "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Fox Sports Network John Salley has defied expectations. Salley recently appeared on September 23 edition of "The Adam Carolla" podcast and asked Carolla a very pointed and insightful question. "I have a question - do you hate Obama?" Salley asked. "Why are so many people who now hate him after just 266 days they loved him? All of white America. Not all of ‘em but the majority."

And now, here’s your Brooklyn Nyets! As this paper went to press, it was announced that Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov will take over as majority owner of the NBA’s Nets team from Forest City Ratner as the franchise readies for their controversial move to the Atlantic/Flatbush avenues intersection in Brooklyn. Prokhorov, an avid sportsman, and his company Onexim Group made their fortune primarily through gold, metals and mining in Russia. Under the agreement, Onexim will invest $200 million and make certain contingent funding commitments to acquire 45 percent of the arena project and 80 percent of the NBA team, and...

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NEW YORK (Reuters) – The NBA moved ahead with plans to train replacement referees on Friday after the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) rejected its final contract offer. "The proposals we have made to the NBRA are extraordinarily fair and reasonable, given the current economic circumstances," said Rick Buchanan, the NBA's executive vice president in a statement on the league's website (www.nba.com). "It is extremely disappointing that the NBRA has ignored the economic realities, rejected our offer, and left us with no choice but to begin using replacement referees." The NBA said its offer would have maintained current salary levels...

Steve Pagliuca, co-owner of the Boston Celtics, is weighing taking a shot at the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat, according to a source close to the Weston resident. Pagliuca, who has also been considering buying the struggling Boston Globe, would join a heavily populated Democratic field that includes Attorney General Martha Coakley. Pagliuca declined comment when reached by a Herald reporter this afternoon, but a source close to the Bain Capital managing director confirmed the 54-year-old is thinking about joining the race. His candidacy is far from a slam dunk, but the well-financed candidate is expected to shake...

1. Wilt Chamberlain 2. Bill Russell 3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 4. George Mikan 5. Shaquille O’Neal 6. Hakeem Olajuwon 7. Moses Malone 8. David Robinson 9. Bill Walton 10. Patrick Ewing

SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Attorneys for Jayson Williams say the retired NBA star's convictions related to a fatal shooting should be thrown out because those who prosecuted him were racially biased. Williams was convicted of four counts of covering up the shooting of a hired driver at his central New Jersey mansion more than seven years ago.

MIAMI — Tim James apologized for being late. A rough day at work, said the Miami Heat's 1999 first-round draft pick. Vehicles broke down, problems flared up, and he simply fell behind. "It happens," James said. "Even here." Even on the front line of the Iraq war. A former NBA player who often wondered about his true calling, Tim James is now a U.S. Army soldier, a transformation that even many of the people closest to him never saw coming.

While there haven't been any solutions presented to stem the tide of rising unemployment and a weakening economy, our elected representatives have made time to advocate for the destruction of our manufacturing industry, the socialization of our healthcare, and the protection of the few under-19 hopefuls that actually have the talent to play in the NBA. An ESPN report details this latest example of our out of touch Congress at work. The NBA defended its minimum age requirement to Congress, but a critical lawmaker was unmoved and is asking to meet with top league officials to discuss it, according to...

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - A day after a warrant was issued stemming from his $822,500 in gambling debts, Antoine Walker was arrested in Harrah's Casino in South Lake Tahoe, Nev., on Wednesday night. Walker was led out of the building in handcuffs, and is in Douglas County Jail with bail set at $87,000. Walker is accused of three felony counts of writing bad checks. County prosecutors say he failed to make good on 10 checks totaling $1 million written to Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood and the Red Rock Resort Walker’s lawyer in Las Vegas, Jonathan Powell, didn’t immediately respond...

Another major multi-team trade might be looming in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls having discussed a deal that would be headlined by Carlos Boozer and Kirk Hinrich, according to NBA front-office sources. Sources stressed to ESPN.com that no deal was imminent Thursday and that both Portland and Utah are still evaluating additional trade scenarios. But two sources with knowledge of the three-team proposal confirmed that there have been substantive talks aimed at landing Boozer in Chicago, Hinrich in Portland and Tyrus Thomas in Utah.

Noted Chicagoan and basketballophile Barack Obama appears to be writing off the California vote in 2012, at least the basketball fans around Los Angeles. In a pre-holiday interview with the Associated Press, Obama was asked who was the better player -- six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan or four-time champion Kobe Bryant? Without even a moment's hesitation, the ex-senator from Illinois blurted out, "Oh, Michael!" Then, apparently realizing what he'd just said and the profound impact on any 2012 election, the new president hastened to add: "I mean, Kobe's terrific. Don't get me wrong. But I haven't seen anybody match up...

Free-agent forward Ron Artest says he's leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers. In a text message to ESPN.com on Thursday night, Artest wrote: "I am happy to say I am goin' to L.A." ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that Artest and the Lakers have reached a verbal agreement on what is believed to be a three-year contract worth an estimated $18 million. Wednesday is the first day free agents are permitted to sign new deals. Artest's decision was first reported by CBSSports.com. The mercurial swingman was initially courted by the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his text...

Los Angeles police released security video today that captures unruly celebrants of the Lakers NBA finals victory helping themselves to merchandise at a Shell gas station convenience store blocks from the Staples Center. The footage, shot June 14 by a security camera at the rear of the store in the 600 block of West Olympic Boulevard, shows a group of about two dozen men swarming the store and helping themselves primarily to juice, soda and energy drinks in a large cooler. The mob shouted, “Free soda, free soda” as they grabbed merchandise in a two-minute rush in which they also...

“It could have been a lot worse.” So said Los Angeles Police Department Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger of the downtown L.A. melee that followed the Lakers’ victory over the Orlando Magic last Sunday. If that’s the standard the LAPD is shooting for these days, the city is in big, big trouble. By the time the last of the Lakers’ “fans” were cleared from the streets that night, eight police officers had been injured, three businesses looted, and several cars and transit buses vandalized, all broadcast live from television news helicopters. You just knew there was a problem with LAPD’s response...

Fla. school likely named for Mourning over Reno By MATT SEDENSKY Associated Press Writer Advertisement Buy AP Photo Reprints Your Questions Answered Ask AP: Following Sotomayor, movie closed captions MIAMI (AP) -- Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno appears to have lost in an unlikely matchup with former NBA star Alonzo Mourning. A committee charged with deciding what to call a new high school in North Miami was considering naming it after one of the two, and last week chose the athlete and his wife.

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds celebrated in the streets outside Staples Center after the Los Angeles Lakers' NBA title win Sunday night, with some revelers damaging police cruisers, throwing rocks and bottles at officers and setting bonfires in the street, authorities said. About 25 people were arrested, most part of a rowdy crowd that split off on to surrounding streets after police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, officer Karen Rayner said. Several police cruisers were damaged and reinforcement officers were called in from throughout the city to help disperse the crowd, Rayner said.

L.A. Lakers fans celebrated their NBA championship victory Sunday night (June 14) by rioting outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Eyewitness reports said that the police officers at the scene were being belted with rocks and bottles. There are also reports of fans starting fires, although it isn’t clear at this stage whether those fires included buildings or vehicles. One unconfirmed report says that at least one police vehicle has been set on fire.

The Lakers win their 15th organizational title, and 10th in Los Angeles, in their 30th Finals appearance. They defeat the Orlando Magic, 99-86 in Game 5, and win the series 4 games to 1. Kobe Bryant was named MVP of the Finals.

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― Authorities are getting prepared for the possible riotous celebration that may accompany a Los Angeles Lakers NBA championship win on Sunday night. "We have the ability to put together resources very quickly if we go to (tactical) alert -- to pull resources in from around the city," Los Angeles police Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell said. McDonnell says the LAPD plans to deploy heavier than usual that night so the department will have the sufficient resources to deal with whatever happens. Staples Center usually shows away games on its outdoor big-screen televisions, but will not on Sunday...

The puppets are still prattling away, carrying on like a modern-day, foam-and-wires odd couple. The presumptuously named Great Debate is still thriving, too. The rivalry between Kobe Bryant and LeBron James has never been more heated, at least in the alternate universe created by advertisers who were banking on a certain N.B.A. finals showdown. Except that the real-life LeBron and his Cleveland Cavaliers just got bounced from the playoffs, and it will be the Orlando Magic that faces Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers for the championship. The real-life Kobe stands alone, which is arguably where he has always been. A rival?...

Orlando defeats Cleveland 4 games to 2 and will travel to Los Angeles for Game 1 on Thursday.

Two important numbers for the Los Angeles Lakers: 27 and 30. Twenty seven was their margin of victory, winning 119 to 92 in Denver. The other number - 30 - is the number of appearances they will have made as a result of winning this game. A possible turning point in the game, during which the home Nuggets rarely led: with 8:55 in the 3rd quarter, the Lakers committed their fifth team foul, allowing the Nuggets to shoot free throws for every subsequent foul. There was only one subsequent Laker team foul in that quarter, and that was five game...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Superman swooped in just in time. Dwight Howard scored 10 points in overtime and the Orlando Magic, raining down 3-pointers like a Florida thunderstorm, withstood 44 points and a last-second shot by LeBron James for a 116-114 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night to take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

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The NBA has World Wrestling Entertainment in a logistical figure-four leglock. WWE’s Monday Night Raw was scheduled for Monday, May 25, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, but the NBA has scheduled Game 4 of the Lakers-Nuggets series for that date. “Even though the Denver Nuggets had a strong team this year and were projected to make the playoffs, obviously Nuggets and Pepsi Center owner Stan Kroenke did not have enough faith in his own team to hold the May 25th date for a potential playoff game,” said WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

TULSA, Okla. -- Former Oklahoma star and NBA player Wayman Tisdale has died at 44 after fighting cancer the past two years. St. John Medical Center in Tulsa said he died Friday morning. The 6-foot-9 forward from Tulsa was a three-time All-American for Oklahoma. He spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns. He first learned he had a cancerous cyst below his right knee after he broke his leg in a fall at his home in Los Angeles in 2007. His leg was amputated last August, but he had made several public...

Magic fan angry at 'raging' Davis Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff May 11, 2009 02:35 PM Orlando Magic fan Ernest Provetti, whose son, 12-year-old Nicholas, was nearly run over by Glen Davis after his buzzer-beating, game-winning shot last night, is demanding an apology from the Celtics forward.The Video

JUPITER, Fla., May 9 (UPI) -- Chuck Daly, who coached the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back NBA titles, died Saturday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 78. Daly, who was diagnosed with cancer in March, died in Jupiter, Fla., surrounded by his family. Known as the ultimate players coach, Daly led the Pistons to NBA titles in 1989 and 1990 and coached the original Dream Team to the Olympic gold medal in 1992. Daly affectionately earned the nickname "Daddy Rich" for his perfectly fitting dapper suits, The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday. "Tailoring covers your sins," Daly once said. Daly,...

Former Pistons and Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly died Saturday morning in Jupiter, Florida with his family by his side. The 78-year-old was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February

Jayson Williams was stunned with a Taser by police in his swank hotel suite Monday after the reportedly suicidal ex-NBA star resisted attempts by officers to take him to a hospital. Police were called to the hotel in lower Manhattan's Battery Park City around 4 a.m. when a female friend reported the former New Jersey Nets player was acting suicidal. When officers arrived, the 6-foot-10, 325-pound Williams appeared drunk and agitated, police said. There were empty bottles of prescription drugs strewn around his disheveled hotel suite and several suicide notes. Officers with the Emergency Services Unit, an elite team trained...